Afraid? Because you have the luck on your side!
It terrifies me—terrifies me every hour of the day. For sooner or later the luck must turn, you see.
Oh nonsense! What should make the luck turn?
[With firm assurance.] The younger generation!
Pooh! The younger generation! You are not laid on the shelf yet, I should hope. Oh no—your position here is probably firmer now than it has ever been.
The luck will turn. I know it—I feel the day approaching. Some one or other will take it into his head to say: Give me a chance! And then all the rest will come clamouring after him, and shake their fists at me and shout: Make room—make room—! Yes, just you see, doctor—presently the younger generation will come knocking at my door—
[Laughing.] Well, and what if they do?
What if they do? Then there's an end of Halvard Solness.
[There is a knock at the door on the left.
[Starts.] What's that? Did you not hear something?